Who Remembers Kickball?
You have to have a good ball to play. One with some bounce. Similar rules to baseball they say. But you could get the ball thrown at you as you rounded the bases and be called out. Everyone wanted to pitch. I left school Friday afternoon and saw this kickball on the playground in the snow.
The rusting chain link surrounding the playground. The red rubber ball birghtened the scene.
Vinyl 45′s in Paper Sleeves with Plastic Adapter
How old do you have to be to remember what 45rpm means? I had a carrying case for this size record. Down at Excuses again, SouthSide, where King Cobra Blues plays the first Friday of the month. I saw this scene- a guy named John had two old 45′s and was asking Don Hollowood to sign them during the band’s break. I asked if I could photograph the 45′s. He was worried I didn’t have a flash but I managed. John was explaining to me how there was an A side and a B side to a 45. It was dark in the bar. I had about twenty years on him and knew about the A and B side but he said he was used to explaining the concept to his nieces. So the rare 45′s of the band Bon Ton Roulet were Black Diamond(A) and You Excite Me Daddy(B) and the other was Love and War (A) and They Call Us Bon Ton Roulet(B). Check out the MTV Basement Tapes, hosted by Frank Zappa, see the early music video featuring Pittsburgh Band Bon Ton Roulet singing Love and War. John said he bought them at Sunny Jim’s in Emsworth. There is one copy of Black Diamond on Amazon. The plastic insert 45rpm adapter is called a spider.
Rooftop Deck View of City from the Southside
The holiday lights down below give the clue as to the time of year. Two gatherings Friday night. Live music at both. Extraordinary piano playing. Walked up to the third floor and out the door onto the roof. Propped the camera up on the deck railing and shot without the cable release. The lights felt magical. A beautiful cold winter night.
Rooftops fascinate me. A terrific vantage point.
Between the Neon Beer Signs on Carson Street
South Side. There is a house sandwiched between storefronts and bars on Carson. Here is how it looked Friday night. In this view you can’t see the Jockey lawn ornament by the life-size Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Making the season bright!
“You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out”
We watched A Christmas Story (1983) over Thanksgiving.
Friday night I walked by this window on Carson St after listening to Don Hollowood and the King Cobras at Excuses. Saw the display and thought anyone who has seen this holiday movie would enjoy the picture. Found out it was shot in Cleveland. When I was in high school I used to listen to Jean Shepherd on the radio. I never knew anyone whose tongue stuck on a frozen flagpole.
Ralphie in the pink bunny suit sits under the fishnet leg lamp, Red Ryder on the right.
3 Sources of Light on the South Side
Streetlights, headlights, moon. Bedford Square. A stripe of cloud by the moon. Always practicing my night photography. Trying to avoid excessive graininess. Enjoying the time off from work to restore.
Seems like another era when I look at this shot.
” When You Care Enough…
to send the very best.” Slogan originated in 1944. I used to send more greeting cards. They’d be late sometimes. Most times. Some remember every occasion and send a lovely card. Well, one friend in particular I know. And on time, too. I used to read cards as a stress relief. Find an envelope if it was missing.
This display is current not vintage. Schwartz's Market South Side.
Formerly a Home, Now Torn Down
Where a house used to be. A vacant lot.
Wonder what it was like to be in the home that still stands when the demolition took place? If you want to know how to demolish a home in a “green way” click here
Racing Pigeons
Pittsburgh’s halls and lodges and posts. Just last week I was at the American Legion in Sheraden. This architecture is listed as Old Style. Arlington Avenue. I’ve never seen a pigeon race. Says the average race is 300 miles at the website American Racing Pigeon Union calling pigeons “the thoroughbreds of the sky”. City pigeons don’t seem particularly hygienic but I am sure the Racing Pigeons are tidy and groomed. Thinking about who belongs to this club, who races pigeons these days? Found an Australian site with pigeonpoetry- poems attached to 8 racing pigeons, a 60K, and bets on winner as a fundraiser, each bird with a flashy name-Old Man Time, Baron,Sydney PEN Shadow… who knew?
I've never seen anyone enter or exit this club when I drive by after school. Looks like they have a sponsor. I've wanted to photograph this sign for awhile. A quick shot from the driver's side.
Scratch-Off Across the Street from School
The curb used to be yellow, the losing ticket catches your eye. You lean over the curb,focus, see equal thirds in the composition. Shoot. Texture, line, shape, color, space, form. Art elements are everywhere in the world.
It looks like someone placed it there for me to find, the curb paint scratched off, too.
Incline by Night Light
This is the Monongahela Incline by Station Square, just across Smithfield Bridge. Travels at 6 mph so hard to get it focused with the shutter open to allow enough light.
Sunday night on the way home from Manchester Craftsmen's Guild Event.
Baby Doll Flies Like a Flag on the Moon
Where a house used to be, unshoveled steps to an empty lot. An iron pipe for a rail. What’s left of it. On the way to school I look up and see this bizarre sight. Pulled over, flashers on, catch of the day, one block from school Thursday morning. Had to look up the definition of stock-still
Just like the flag planted on the moon, immobile.
Icicles Backlit by Low Beams on Josephine St
When I left Tess’s house after Book Club, the snow and streetlights created a dramatic winter scene. She pointed out the giant icicles on the neighboring house. Walked to the corner and took a shot but just not enough light to make them interesting. A car came down the hill. I was able to catch some of the light from their low beams as they backlit the giant icicles that almost touched the ground.( Well, the deep snow covering the ground). The term chiaroscuro surfaces as I look at the shading now, the darkness, the light. An article about the use of it in photography Lighting is All About Chiaroscuro explains what I was trying to achieve with the use of available light. The car’s lights timing saved the shot.
Caught the light just as the car approached the stop sign.
TV Still Life in the Snow
I counted fifteen recycle bags. The discarded television looks really heavy to me.
Waiting for pickup. Any idea what year the Television set was made?
Giant Cyclops in the Snow on Carson Street
Family, friends and neighbors suggest pictures for me to shoot. Tess said, “Ruthie, you have to get a photo of the giant Snow Cyclops!” But he was over on the South Side and for 9 days I wasn’t driving anywhere.
Thursday night I left the Art Institute downtown and headed for Book Club on Josephine Street, and there he was waiting for me. Not melted yet! Deep and dirty piles of snow so nowhere to park. Pulled into the bus stop, pushed the flashers button. Got out of the car completely, careful of traffic on Carson Street, and felt like photographer on assignment. Self-imposed! Thanks Tess. Kyklops Tattoo for all your tattoo needs!
The temperature rose today so I was lucky to catch him before he started to melt
What I Saw on the Way to School This Morning
The angle of the frozen water layered with the multicolored stones was a good find.
Garbage on the Sidewalk -Corner of Arlington Ave and Cologne Street
Elf Hut
Stuck behind stopped school bus, I got this shot
South Side Sidewalk Find Last Saturday Morning
What is the story behind the abandoned party hat?
Waders and a Potato in a Truck Bed Parked on the South Side-Pittsburgh
Okay the waders are for fishing. But what about the potato? Just sitting there in the parked truck Saturday morning.
Gone Fishing or Planning to Go
Road Crew Rests-18th & Carson St. Southside
Waiting to set up for a band or maybe just finished unloading the back of the truck.
I sat at the red light and took a quick shot as one waved to me.
Roadies and Band Equipment
Would credit them but don’t know the band.
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